Tipping camp counselors?

[dbramer]

Since I am a teacher, I have also been a camp counselor for many years. It was a nice gesture to get the counselors a little something at the end of camp. Especially if it is a day camp and the child has been there the entire summer. It was usually a gift card for 10 or 15 dollars to Target. I worked in a sports camp so I got a lot Dick's and Modells cards. My son was a camper in the day camp and we made sure that his counselors each got a nice gift card at the end of the summer. The counselors do not make much money and the show of gratitude would be appreciated.

Bottom line, do what you think is right.

 

[tvguy]

Plus one. We tip the teachers and volunteers at their vacation bible school.

Come to think of it, all the people at the camp I went to as a kid were volunteers or seminary students doing unpaid internships. My mom was a nurse and volunteered to work a week as camp nurse, in exchange for me going for free. I know my mom would have been insulted by a tip. Not sure interns are allowed to accept tips since this is sort of a cross between and internship and community service at a church camp.

 

[jrmasm]

It's interesting to see all of the responses.... it would never occur to me not to tip! In our area, tipping is the norm and counselors depend on tips to make up for not getting paid very much during the camp season. My DH was a day camp counselor for many years. When our kids went to camp with him, we tipped their counselors. My oldest DS was going to be a CIT this year, and he would have been paid $50 a week - yup $10 a day....from 8:30-4:00! (and then hope for tips!)

He decided to work elsewhere...

I think this is the key.

My DD is a day camp counselor. She is paid for 40hrs per week. For a summer job, she is well paid because she gets so many hours.

IMO, she should not be tipped.

 

[princesspiglet]

I'm in Central PA (Hershey) and have never heard of tipping at camp. My DD11 is at a Christian sleep away camp right now. This is her 5th year and I have never tipped anyone there. For curiosity sake, I called the camp last night and spoke to the director and asked about tipping and she stated that tipping was NOT allowed, the counselors would refuse.

I also grew up going to GS camp and was a counselor for 3 years. I was never tipped and the thought never even crossed my mind.

 

[DawnM]

Yikes. Another reason why I have no desire to live on LI. I can't imagine trying to figure out all the people I have to tip and how much, etc....

Lots of summer camps for my boys this year. No tipping.

 

[DawnM]

That is $160 in tips.

Most of our week long camps run between $190 and $250 total!

Another local camp:

Staff Recognition
What is an appropriate way to thank the staff that took care of my child this summer?
While tipping is certainly not required, we do suggest that tips are an appropriate way to recognize those staff members who have contributed toward the success of your child's summer experience. Below is a guide that may be helpful.
Sr. Counselor: $25 - $40
Bus Counselor: $10 - $20
Asst. Sr. Counselor: $20 - $30
Bus Driver: $10 - $15
Jr. Counselor: $15 - $25
Counselor Assistant: $10 - $20
CIT: $10 - $15

You may also wish to consider your child's Swim Instructor and Daycare Staff.

 

[deedeetoo]

I'm in MA. My kids did mostly boy scout/girl scout camp and some basketball camp. I've never heard of tipping camp counselors.

 

[jrmasm]

I just looked up the current wages for the residential camp that I worked for during the late 80's. Their current pay scale starts at $2800 for 7 weeks for counselors.

No way would I tip them.

 

[tvguy]

Yikes. Another reason why I have no desire to live on LI. I can't imagine trying to figure out all the people I have to tip and how much, etc....

Lots of summer camps for my boys this year. No tipping.

I was in the U.K last month and it was interesting that workers get by just fine on $10.25 an hour minimum wage without tips. But, of course, the government provides healthcare, not the employer or employee.

 

[Cindy B]

I just looked up the current wages for the residential camp that I worked for during the late 80's. Their current pay scale starts at $2800 for 7 weeks for counselors.

No way would I tip them.

That is not a bad wage. My daughters day camp is very low pay for some people-- counselors make very little but make it up in tips-- like $500 or $600 base pay and your tips.

For example, last year she was not a certified life guard- just pool staff and had a base of either $450-550 for the summer. She also got paid to be a bus counselor -- another $350-400 (can't remember). Her tips were over $500 but not quite $600-- like 585 or something like that.

She gets paid more now due to age- and that she is a certified lifeguard. I can't remember exactly It certainly isnt 2800 though.

 

[Cindy B]

That is $160 in tips.

Most of our week long camps run between $190 and $250 total!

Most people don't have all of those people helping them.. in a week long camp you don't have a bus driver or a bus counselor and four to five different counselors--

To be fair her employer and camp is in an affluent city.

 

[njmom47]

Camp counselors in our area do get tips.
I was just talking to the mom of a teen camp counselor and she said he made phenomenal money in tips last year. This camp is a bit more upscale than say a Y or GS camp (which I would think GS camp would not be given tips).

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Most people don't have all of those people helping them.. in a week long camp you don't have a bus driver or a bus counselor and four to five different counselors--

To be fair her employer and camp is in an affluent city.

The way I read the tipping list that you provided suggested tips for those counselors that the kids actually had, and those positions actually vary from camp to camp. In my DDs case because of her age, she doesn't have, say, a bus counselor this summer because she spends her entire time at camp at camp. They start doing overnights away from the camp next year at 10yo.

In the end, I look at these "tips" as more of a thank you gift than a gratuity, kind of like the gifts that you give your kid's teachers at the end of a school year.

 

[mefordis]

The camp my daughters go to is incredible. The groups are small and the counselors and staff really get to know the kids. They get a lot of special attention, and I even get calls telling me things that the girls have done that day, accomplishments, etc. They are very very detail oriented. I am happy to tip the staff because they make the experience so special for the campers.

The camp is pricey but the camp fees include lunch, drinks, snacks, sweatshirt, t shirt, overnight and day trips to theme parks, etc.

I see the tips as coming with the price tag of a camp like this. If one cannot afford the tips they should not be sending their kids to this type of camp. The tips are nothing compared to the tuition so I'm guessing most people who send their kids don't have a problem with tipping.

Now, if we are talking about a day camp that is only $200 a week I don't think those counselors are expecting any tips.

 

[sk!mom]

Plus one. We tip the teachers and volunteers at their vacation bible school.

I totally understand and expected to tip at Summer camp but VBS??? Offerings were normally strongly encouraged but tipping- never heard of that. I thought most people who did it viewed it as a ministry. My DD volunteered one year during high school for the community service hours.

 

[jrmasm]

The camp my daughters go to is incredible. The groups are small and the counselors and staff really get to know the kids. They get a lot of special attention, and I even get calls telling me things that the girls have done that day, accomplishments, etc. They are very very detail oriented. I am happy to tip the staff because they make the experience so special for the campers.

The camp is pricey but the camp fees include lunch, drinks, snacks, sweatshirt, t shirt, overnight and day trips to theme parks, etc.

I see the tips as coming with the price tag of a camp like this. The tips are nothing compared to the tuition so I'm guessing most people who send their kids don't have a problem with tipping.

Now, if we are talking about a day camp that is only $200 a week I don't If one cannot afford the tips they should not be sending their kids to this type of camp. think those counselors are expecting any tips.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

The camp my daughters go to is incredible. The groups are small and the counselors and staff really get to know the kids. They get a lot of special attention, and I even get calls telling me things that the girls have done that day, accomplishments, etc. They are very very detail oriented. I am happy to tip the staff because they make the experience so special for the campers.

The camp is pricey but the camp fees include lunch, drinks, snacks, sweatshirt, t shirt, overnight and day trips to theme parks, etc.

I see the tips as coming with the price tag of a camp like this. If one cannot afford the tips they should not be sending their kids to this type of camp. The tips are nothing compared to the tuition so I'm guessing most people who send their kids don't have a problem with tipping.
Now, if we are talking about a day camp that is only $200 a week I don't think those counselors are expecting any tips.

With all due respect, I think you're taking the thread on a bit of an ugly turn here. It isn't a question as to whether or not one can afford to tip. AFAIC, that's not even part of the equation. The question is whether or not the practice is appropriate or expected and I'd like it to remain there if possible.

 

[mefordis]

I apologize if I hit a nerve with anyone. I just see it along the lines of tipping at restaurants. If it is a common practice to tip, one should tip imo.

From some of the posts I get the feeling people are shocked at the concept of tipping at camps and i'm just saying those that go to the camps that tip are not shocked by it.

With all due respect, I think you're taking the thread on a bit of an ugly turn here. It isn't a question as to whether or not one can afford to tip. AFAIC, that's not even part of the equation. The question is whether or not the practice is appropriate or expected and I'd like it to remain there if possible.

 

[3smithboys]

From what I am inferring from what people are saying is that there seems to be a difference between sending your kids to a week long camp vs a camp that is 8 weeks long (day/overnight.)

When I send one of my boys to a week long soccer camp, I did not tip. When I sent my kids to an 8 week long day camp, I did. (but that also may vary by where you live...)

I might be wrong...

 

[Ceila]

I apologize if I hit a nerve with anyone. I just see it along the lines of tipping at restaurants. If it is a common practice to tip, one should tip imo.

From some of the posts I get the feeling people are shocked at the concept of tipping at camps and i'm just saying those that go to the camps that tip are not shocked by it.

Well, I'm not the OP, but I have to agree that tossing out the "If one cannot afford the tips they should not be sending their kids to this type of camp" and "The tips are nothing compared to the tuition so I'm guessing most people who send their kids don't have a problem with tipping" come across quite differently than what you are now claiming you meant. Even your quote above reads as though you assume that anyone sending their child to an expensive camp already knows that tipping is expected. Maybe that's what you meant, and maybe it isn't, but that IS how your posts are coming across.

Your comments comes across as very condescending, and this is coming from someone who is spending quite a lot to send her daughter to overnight horse camp. (Side note: I am really, really not the type to mention the cost of something unless I got a good deal on it, but I felt that this piece of information was necessary in order to get my point across to the poster I quoted.) In fact, her camp specifically states no tipping allowed. On the other hand, there was a post from someone who has seen tipping at a Girl Scouts camp, which are much more reasonable priced.